Kristiyan Kitov (Bulgarian: Кристиян Китов; born 14 October 1996) is a Bulgarian retired footballer who played as a midfielder for Strumska Slava Radomir, most recent.[1] He is the youngest debutant and goalscorer for Ludogorets.

Kristiyan Kitov
Personal information
Full name Kristiyan Dimitrov Kitov
Date of birth (1996-10-14) 14 October 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Sofia, Bulgaria
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10+12 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Strumska Slava
Number 20
Youth career
0000–2012 CSKA Sofia
2012–2015 Ludogorets Razgrad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2018 Ludogorets Razgrad 4 (1)
2015–2018 Ludogorets Razgrad II 31 (0)
2018 Lokomotiv GO 12 (2)
2019–2024 Strumska Slava 104 (5)
Total 151 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:20, 20 January 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Born in Sofia, Kitov began his football career from CSKA Sofia, before moving to Ludogorets Razgrad. He was the captain of the U19 team who took a part of 2014–15 season of UEFA Youth League.[2]

Kitov become the youngest player to debut for the first team, coming in play at 16 years 11 months 25 days in match against Dunav Ruse in the Bulgarian Cup.[3] He completed his professional debut in A Group on 18 May 2014 scoring a goal for the 3:1 win over Cherno More, becoming the youngest goalscorer for Ludogorets at age 17 years 7 months 4 days.[4] For the 2015–16 season Kitov was part of the newly created second team of Ludogorets in B Group playing not very often due to injuries. Three years later, on 28 May 2017, he returned in the first team and played for the First League again against Cherno More and the team won with the same result.[5]

Kitov started the 2017–18 season in Ludogorets II playing in the first match of the season against Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia.[6]

On 30 May 2018 Kitov ended his contract with Ludogorets due to mutual agreement, because he could not find a place in the first team and the team did not want to stop his development.[7]

On 7 July 2018 Kitov signed a contract with the Bulgarian Second League team Lokomotiv GO.[8]

On 15 February 2024, after 5 seasons with Strumska Slava, Kitov announced his retirement at the age of just 27, as he torn posterior cruciate ligament, which was another heavy injury for him.[9]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 29 November 2018
Club performance League Cup Continental Other Total
Club League Season Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bulgaria League Bulgarian Cup Europe Other[a] Total
Ludogorets Razgrad A Group 2013–14 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
2014–15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First League 2016–17 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2017–18 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
Ludogorets Razgrad II B Group 2015–16 7 0 7 0
Second League 2016–17 3 0 3 0
2017–18 21 0 21 0
Total 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 0
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa Second League 2018–19 12 2 1 0 13 2
Career statistics 47 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 50 3
  1. ^ Includes Bulgarian Supercup matches.

Honours

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Club

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Ludogorets

References

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  1. ^ "Kristiyan Kitov Facts". footballdatabase.eu.
  2. ^ Кристиян Китов – капитан на първия български отбор в Младежката Шампионска лига
  3. ^ Ludogorets vs Dunav
  4. ^ Ludogorets vs Cherno More
  5. ^ С десет българи в състава - Лудогорец разби Черно море
  6. ^ Лудогорец 2 започна с успех новия сезон във Втора лига, разочарование за Локо (Сф)
  7. ^ Титуляр за Лудогорец в мача с Ботев Пд се раздели с шампионите
  8. ^ “Локомотив” се подсили с футболист на “Лудогорец”
  9. ^ Тежко решение: Кристиян Китов спира с футбола
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